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Water Changes
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The reproduction cycle of ich is approximately three days, or even less under higher temperatures. Performing substantial water changes daily for up to a week will remove many of the ich organisms in your aquarium. The normal rule of thumb in tank care is to never change more than 30 percent of an aquarium's water at once. However, in the case of ich, many aquarists suggest the more aggressive approach of changing 50 percent of the water each day.
When performing water changes, vacuum the substrate well to remove as many cysts as possible. Once the cysts reach a certain size, they drop off the fish and attach themselves to the bottom, sides, plants and decorations in the tank and begin to reproduce.
If you are medicating the fish for ich, avoid performing water changes during the prescribed dosage period. Instead, perform a substantial water change immediately before treatment and immediately after the prescribed dosage period.
Other Treatments
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Heat speeds up the life cycle of ich, so slowly raising the temperature of your tank to approximately 85 degrees F while performing water changes can help eliminate the infestation. Maintain the higher temperature for two weeks, or until the ich is no longer present in your tank, then return the temperature slowly back to normal. Remember, rapidly fluctuating temperatures are stressful,or even deadly, for aquarium inhabitants. Adding aquarium salt to freshwater tanks may also help fish build their natural defenses to ich.
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Should I Change the Water While My Fish Have Ick?
Ichthyophthirius multifilis, also known as ick or ich, is a ciliated protozoan present at all times to some extent in aquariums. Normally, a fish's natural defenses are enough to combat ich infestation. However, in times of stress or illness, fish become vulnerable and the free-swimming ich attaches itself to the fish's skin, forming a cyst from which the organism feeds on the fish. Changing the water while your fish have ich can reduce the number of ich organisms in the tank.